COURT REPORTS

Probationary terms were handed down in Wharton County's 329th District Court during mid-January plea bargain agreements.

Judge Randy Clapp heard the following guilty plea:

• Sherri Smith, 35, of 704 Ave. K in El Campo for forgery. She was placed on four years deferred probation and ordered to pay $1,600.06 in restitution.

A second forgery charge was set aside as part of the plea agreement.

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Allegations of theft and DWI will have two people facing felony trials following February deliberations of the Wharton County Grand Jury.

The indictment is a citizen jury ruling that a prosecutor has enough evidence to proceed with felony level charges. It does not mean a person is guilty of the charge he or she is accused of in the court.

Those indicted include:

• John Avila Jr., 31, of 15407 W. Barbosa Circle in Houston for three counts of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger. Avila allegedly drove drunk on Sept. 23, 2007 with three children under the age of 15 in the vehicle.

• George Bauer Jr., 22, of 1907 Wayne in El Campo, for theft. He allegedly stole more than $1,500 in merchandise from an El Campo business on Oct. 28, 2007.

• George Bauer Sr., 46, of Rt. 2, Box 161 in El Campo for driving while intoxicated third or more. He allegedly drove drunk on Oct. 28, 2007. Bauer has two prior misdemeanor DWI convictions.